Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P62988 (Ubiquitin)
 4,326 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Interferon (IFN)-alpha is a cytokine with antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory properties, the functions of which are mediated via IFN-induced protein products. We used metabolic labeling and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by MS and database searches to identify potentially new IFN-alpha-induced proteins in human T cells. By this analysis, we showed that IFN-alpha induces the expression of ubiquitin cross-reactive protein (ISG15) and two ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes, UbcH5 and UbcH8. Northern-blot analysis showed that IFN-alpha rapidly enhances mRNA expression of UbcH5, UbcH6 and UbcH8 in T cells. In addition, these genes were induced in macrophages in response to IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma stimulation or influenza A or Sendai virus infections. Similarly, IFNs enhanced UbcH8 mRNA expression in A549 lung epithelial cells, HepG2 hepatoma cells, and NK-92 cells. Cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, did not block IFN-induced upregulation of UbcH8 mRNA expression, suggesting that UbcH8 is the primary target gene for IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma. Ubiquitin conjugation is a rate-limiting step in antigen presentation and therefore the upregulation of UbcHs by IFNs may contribute to the enhanced antigen presentation by macrophages. Our results show that proteome analysis of cells is a suitable method for identifying previously unrecognized cytokine-inducible genes.
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PMID:Proteome analysis reveals ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes to be a new family of interferon-alpha-regulated genes. 1086

Protection against breast cancer was achieved with a DNA vaccine against murine transcription factor Fos-related antigen 1, which is overexpressed in aggressively proliferating D2F2 murine breast carcinoma. Growth of primary s.c. tumor and dissemination of pulmonary metastases was markedly suppressed by this oral DNA vaccine, carried by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium, encoding murine Fos-related antigen 1, fused with mutant polyubiquitin, and cotransformed with secretory murine IL-18. The life span of 60% of vaccinated mice was tripled in the absence of detectable tumor growth after lethal tumor cell challenge. Immunological mechanisms involved activation of T, natural killer, and dendritic cells, as indicated by up-regulation of their activation markers and costimulatory molecules. Markedly increased specific target cell lysis was mediated by both MHC class I-restricted CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells isolated from splenocytes of vaccinated mice, including a significant release of proinflammatory cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-2. Importantly, fluorescence analysis of fibroblast growth factor 2 and tumor cell-induced vessel growth in Matrigel plugs demonstrated marked suppression of angiogenesis only in vaccinated animals. Taken together, this multifunctional DNA vaccine proved effective in protecting against growth and metastases of breast cancer by combining the action of immune effector cells with suppression of tumor angiogenesis.
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PMID:Transcription factor Fos-related antigen 1 is an effective target for a breast cancer vaccine. 1285 59

Repeated injection of alpha-galactosylceramide, an agonistic ligand for natural killer T (NKT) cells, results in long-term unresponsiveness or anergy, which severely limits its clinical application. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to NKT anergy induction remain unclear. We show here that the decreased IFN-gamma production and failed tumor rejection observed in anergized NKT cells are rescued by Cbl-b deficiency. Cbl-b E3 ligase activity is critical for the anergy induction, as revealed by the similarity between Cbl-b(-/-) and its RING finger mutant NKT cells. Cbl-b binds and promotes monoubiquitination to CARMA1, a critical signaling molecule in NFkappaB activation. Ubiquitin conjugation to CARMA1 disrupts its complex formation with Bcl10 without affecting its protein stability. In addition, CARMA1(-/-) NKT cells are defective in IFN-gamma production. The study identifies an important signaling pathway linking Cbl-b-induced monoubiquitination to NFkappaB activation in NKT cell anergy induction, which may help design approaches for human cancer therapy.
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PMID:Mechanisms of NKT cell anergy induction involve Cbl-b-promoted monoubiquitination of CARMA1. 1981 1